CAIR-NY: Coalition to Call for Resignation of NYPD Commissioner Over Anti-Islam Film Cover-Up

(NEW YORK, N.Y., 1/25/12) - On Thursday, January 26, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) -- along with the Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC) and other minority and civil liberties groups -- will hold a news conference on the steps of City Hall to call for the resignations of New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Ray Kelly and Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne due to revelations that they covered up their roles in the production of the anti-Islam propaganda film "The Third Jihad" that was shown to almost 1500 NYPD officers.

"Commissioner Kelly is listed on the 'Third Jihad' Web site as a 'featured interviewee.' Paul J. Browne, the Police Department's chief spokesman, wrote in an e-mail that filmmakers had lifted the clip from an old interview. The commissioner, Mr. Browne said, has not asked the filmmakers to remove him from its Web site, or to clarify that he had not cooperated with them."

But in a follow-up article today, the Times reveals that Kelly and Browne were both involved in the film's production: "Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne told The New York Times on Monday that the filmmakers had relied on old interview clips and had never spoken with the commissioner. On Tuesday, the film's producer, Raphael Shore, e-mailed The Times and provided a date and time for their 90-minute interview with the commissioner at Police Headquarters on March 19, 2007. Told of this e-mail, Mr. Browne revised his account. 'He's right,' Mr. Browne said Tuesday of the producer. 'In fact, I recommended in February 2007 that Commissioner Kelly be interviewed.'"

"As leaders of the nation's largest police department, Commissioner Kelly and Deputy Commissioner Browne's actions set a tone for relations with law enforcement that impact American Muslims nationwide," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The reputation of the NYPD deteriorates with each new revelation of improper actions. It's time for change."

"This controversy has moved beyond an issue of poor judgment in the use of an Islamophobic training film to an issue of the integrity of public officials," said CAIR-NY Civil Rights Manager Cyrus McGoldrick. "The lack of truthfulness exhibited by Commissioner Kelly and Deputy Commissioner Browne means New Yorkers must now question the credibility of every statement they make. This situation necessitates their immediate resignations."

He said this latest revelation comes following a year-long series of misstatements and retractions from Kelly and Browne that indicates a total disregard for the civil rights of American Muslims and a complete lack of respect for one of the city's largest religious communities.

McGoldrick said that when the issue first came to light last year, CAIR-NY called on the NYPD to investigate how the propaganda film came to be used in mandatory counterterrorism training. CAIR-NY also called for new NYPD guidelines to ensure that officer training materials offer only unbiased information about any religious or minority community. Along with the Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC), CAIR-NY sent several letters to Commissioner Kelly, but received no response beyond callous dismissals of the allegations as "wrong" and "a non-issue."

McGoldrick added that a recent series of investigative reports by the Associated Press revealed that undercover NYPD officers in a so-called "Demographics Unit" spied on Muslim communities and houses of worship with the assistance of individuals linked to the CIA. NYPD officials initially denied the Demographics Unit existed, despite the AP's publication of an NYPD presentation and other documents that described the mission and makeup of the unit.

"The Third Jihad" was produced by the shadowy non-profit group the Clarion Fund. A previous anti-Muslim propaganda film produced by the group and distributed to millions of voters in swing states just prior to the 2008 election was apparently backed by a $17 million donation from a "longtime contributor" to neo-conservatives and militant Israeli groups. The Clarion Fund also has links to the right-wing Israeli group Aish HaTorah.

The Times article on Tuesday also notes: "[The Clarion Fund's] previous documentary attacking Muslims' 'war on the West' attracted support from the casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, a major supporter of Israel who has helped reshape the Republican presidential primary by pouring millions of dollars into a so-called super PAC that backs Newt Gingrich."

McGoldrick noted that the Obama administration said it would review and reform government training on Islam after CAIR and the other civil rights groups expressed concerns about persistent reports that FBI agents and other government and military officials are trained to view mainstream American Muslims with suspicion and to view the faith of Islam as the source of terrorism and extremism.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CAIR Joins Vets in Asking West Point to Disinvite Anti-Islam SpeakerRetired Lt. Gen. Boykin says Constitution should not protect Muslims, there should be 'no mosques in America'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/26/2012) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations(CAIR) today joined VoteVets.org, a coalition of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, in asking the superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to retract an invitation to retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin to speak at a prayer breakfast at the academy next month.

Boykin believes that "[Islam] should not be protected under the First Amendment," that there should be "no mosques in America" and that there can be no interfaith dialogue or cooperation between Muslims and Christians. He is scheduled to speak at the West Point event on February 8.

In a letter sent today to Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon, superintendent of the academy, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad wrote in part:

"In his public speeches, Gen. Boykin promotes a host of false and misleading 'facts' about Islam, including claims that Muslims 'curse Jesus' when they pray and that 'those following the dictates of the Quran are under an obligation to destroy our Constitution.' In reality, Muslims revere Jesus, and Islamic principles require Muslims to respect and follow the law of the land, in this case the Constitution.

"Mr. Boykin's intolerant views do a disservice to our nation's longstanding traditions of religious freedom and pluralism and could potentially harm our country's interests and the security of our troops overseas. By providing a platform associated with West Point, Mr. Boykin's hate-filled rhetoric would receive a level of credibility and legitimacy it does not deserve. We respectfully ask that you reconsider inviting him."

CAIR and People For the American Way objected to a speech Boykin gave earlier today to a mayor's prayer breakfast in Maryland. Hundreds of people contacted city officials to protest Boykin's appearance.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Action: Ask West Point to Disinvite Anti-Islam SpeakerRetired Lt. Gen. Boykin says Constitution should not protect Muslims, there should be 'no mosques in America'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/27/2012) -- CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact the superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to ask that he rescind an invitation to an anti-Islam speaker, retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin, who is scheduled to appear February 8 at an academy prayer breakfast.

"The academy's association with Mr. Boykin's extremist and intolerant views sends a negative message to the cadets and to the Muslim-majority nations in which they may be stationed after graduation," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad sent a letter yesterday to Superintendent Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon asking that the academy's invitation to Boykin be withdrawn.

"Mr. Boykin's intolerant views do a disservice to our nation's longstanding traditions of religious freedom and pluralism and could potentially harm our country's interests and the security of our troops overseas. By providing a platform associated with West Point, Mr. Boykin's hate-filled rhetoric would receive a level of credibility and legitimacy it does not deserve. We respectfully ask that you reconsider inviting him."

CAIR and People For the American Way objected to Boykin's speaking yesterday at a mayor's prayer breakfast in Maryland. Hundreds of people contacted city officials to protest Boykin's appearance.

I respectfully request that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point rescind its invitation to retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin who is scheduled to speak February 8 at an academy prayer breakfast.

Mr. Boykin is an infamous Islamophobe who believes that "[Islam] should not be protected under the First Amendment," that there should be "no mosques in America" and that there can be no interfaith dialogue or cooperation between Muslims and Christians.

His extremist views are clearly outside the "broad range of ideas normally considered by [y]our cadets."

The academy's association with Mr. Boykin's intolerant views do a disservice to our nation's longstanding traditions of pluralism and will send a negative message to the cadets and to the Muslim-majority nations in which they may be stationed after graduation.

CAIR-WA:Wash. State Muslims Mark MLK Day with Civic EngagementMuslims Capitol Day will begin at 9 a.m. at the flag circle, sponsored by[CAIR-WA]. There also will be an MLK Day Awareness About Muslims event at 8 a.m. on the Trivoli Fountain South Lawn, sponsored by [ICNA].

CAIR-FL:Columnist Slams One-Man Anti-Muslim Group (Tampa Bay Times)The Florida Family Association is a cabal of one squirrelly little biblical bully, armed only with an email list of like/narrow-minded self-righteous fellow travelers who wouldn't know the meaning of faith, hope and charity if they tripped over it.

An Islam-Bashing Bridge Too Far?Not for Pam GellerPam Geller, the Muslim-hating propagandist behind the Atlas Shrugs website, is at it again. Even as U.S. officials recoil in horror, the woman whose blog once suggested that President Obama is the "love child" of Malcolm X is celebrating a video that appears to show U.S. soldiers urinating on dead Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

IA:Imam, Priest, Rabbi Work Together to EducateThe Inter-religious Dialogue sessions begin Thursday and will be led by Schaab, Imam Saad Baig from the Islamic Center of the Quad-Cities in Moline and Rabbi Tamar Grimm of the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Islan

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) quoted God as saying: "My love is obliged to those who love each other for My sake, who sit with each other for My sake, who visit each other for My sake, and who give to each other generously for My sake."

In The Washington Post yesterday, Law Professor Jonathan Turley has an Op-Ed in which he identifies ten major, ongoing assaults on core civil liberties in the U.S. Many of these abuses were accelerated during the Bush administration in the wake of 9/11, but all have been vigorously continued and/or expanded by President Obama.

Turley points out that these powers have long been deemed (by the U.S.) as the hallmark of tyranny, and argues that their seizure by the U.S. Government has seriously called into question America's status as a free nation: "They form a mosaic of powers under which our country could be considered, at least in part, authoritarian."

All ten of these powers are ones very familiar to readers here: Assassination of U.S. citizens; Indefinite detention; Arbitrary justice; Warrantless searches; Secret evidence; War crimes; Secret court; Immunity from judicial review; Continual monitoring of citizens; and Extraordinary renditions.

I've written volumes on all of those powers over the last several years, but -- especially today -- I want to focus on one narrow but vital question: who are generally the victims of these civil liberties assaults?

The answer is the same as the one for this related question: who are the prime victims of America's posture of Endless War? Overwhelmingly, the victims are racial, ethnic and religious minorities: specifically, Muslims (both American Muslims and foreign nationals).

And that is a major factor in why these abuses flourish: because those who dominate American political debates perceive, more or less accurately, that they are not directly endangered (at least for now) by this assault on core freedoms and Endless War (all civil liberties abuses in fact endanger all citizens, as they inevitably spread beyond their original targets, but they generally become institutionalized precisely because those outside the originally targeted minority groups react with indifference). (More)

Saadia Khan was innocently standing at a bus stop when a woman drove by and flipped her off.

Khan, a fifth-year biology major, moved to the United States from Pakistan with her parents when she was 2 years old. But, there have been times where she felt she was not welcome in the country she has come to call home because of her faith.

It's been more than 10 years since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but Muslims today are still dealing with a lack of understanding when it comes to their faith.

Adebayo Ogundipe, a Muslim from Nigeria and assistant professor in the School of Engineering, said he feels stereotypes are common in any society; anything that's different from the cultural norm will be misconceived.

"The misconceptions are overwhelmingly negative," Ogundipe said.

In the current cultural climate, Ogundipe believes that society develops its perceptions of other people and their faith based on mainstream media.

Ehsan Ahmed, a professor and department head of economics, was born in Pakistan, but has spent most of his time in the U.S. Ahmed said that what's portrayed on television is limited in scope.

"People don't have time to read books or further educate themselves," Ahmed said.

One common misconception about Islam is that it's an ethnicity, not a religion.

"So, you can't really look like you're Muslim," said Dalia Desouky, a Muslim and sophomore double major in international affairs and political science. "There are Muslims in seriously every country on this earth."

According to the Council on American Islamic Relations website, there are an estimated 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, an estimated 7 million Muslims live in America. (More)

Her Work: al-Adawiya has been active in interfaith-based activism in New York City and the world for more than three decades. While her organization focuses on strengthening the role and voice of women in Islam, al-Adawiya has been very active in defending Muslims against Islamophobia and promoting interfaith unity in New York City.

On Her Brotherly Walk With Dr. King:

The best way to address brotherly (and sisterly) love is to begin in our own families. We have to be the ones to model that for our own constituencies, first of all. If I'm sitting a room and I hear people making racist statements, I will not sit quietly by, but I will speak directly to it. You don't get to do that in my presence. And it doesn't always have to be confrontational. But if you're saying bigoted things about other people not present, I always think that when I leave you could say the same things about me. So let's not do that. And try to think, "Why are we doing that?" And as people of faith, whatever our faiths are, we must ask, "What are our higher callings? Is this something our spiritual elders would encourage us to do?" (More)

The snow deterred some activists at the Capitol today, but others are braving the elements to lobby lawmakers. ...

Participants in Muslim's Day at the Capitol rallied on the steps for lawmakers to act against Islamophobia and protect basic services from budget cuts. The group spoke with individual legislators, and is seeking support for a proposal it hopes will prevent anti-Sharia laws by clarifying that state and U.S. laws are not threatened by religious or international ones. The Council on American-Islamic Relations sponsored the event. (More)

Boycotting the local Lowe's stores was one suggestion made Sunday night at a forum in Orland Park to discuss the home improvement chain's decision late last year to pull ads from a reality television show about Muslims.

Another suggestion was that "Muslims and their allies" shop at Lowe's and interact with managers and customers to show they are stakeholders in Lowe's decisions.

While the proposed solutions differed widely, many of those who attended the forum -- entitled "The Lowe's Incident: Helping Businesses and Communities Eradicate Hate" -- agreed there's a growing problem with intolerance that must be addressed.

Invoking Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of tolerance and unity, the American Islamic Association of Frankfort and The Prayer Center of Orland Park co-hosted the interfaith, town hall-style meeting, which was attended by about 60 people.

Maaria Mozaffar, a Naperville attorney, organized the meeting to address Lowe's decision to pull ads from The Learning Channel's reality show series, "All-American Muslim." The action came after Lowe's was the target of an email campaign organized by the Florida Family Association, a nonprofit group whose stated purpose is "defending American values." Lowe's has denied it was influenced by the FFA. ...

Amina Shareef, representing the Council on American Islamic Relations Chicago, said "any impact we take here locally needs to be felt by the corporation nationally." Shareef suggested using social media in a movement that would include boycotting Lowe's, a letter-writing campaign, and taking pictures of individuals holding "Boycott Lowe's" signs outside of local Lowe's stores to send to corporate headquarters. (More)

Orland Park, IL-(ENEWSPF)- What does the decision of Lowes to pull advertising from the TLC show "All American Muslim" mean for the future of Muslim Americans in the media and elsewhere? Why would a Fortune 500 company cater to a small lobby group which sought to distort the image of Muslims in America?

These were among the questions asked Sunday evening at the Prayer Center of Orland Park during a town hall meeting on what many are calling "the Lowes incident." The event was held in commemoration of the anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The town hall meeting was organized by several active and concerned interfaith groups that serve the residents of Illinois. The purpose was to have a detailed and evaluative community discussion regarding the "Lowes incident." ...

Amina Shareef, representing CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, said, "Those groups like the Florida Family Association that stir up these controversies, they are the fringe, and we just need to make sure we work with main-stream Americans, the majority of Americans, level-headed, peaceful, tolerant people, to fulfill our nation's values."

There's nothing like inventing a fear to deflect attention. And that's just what Oklahoma politicians did when they put State Question 755 before the voters in 2010.

Question 755 asked Oklahoma voters to protect themselves against a religious intrusion into the state's courts. But not just any religion, this proposed constitutional amendment barred judges from considering international or Islamic law in their decisions. The fact that there'd never been such an assault on the Oklahoma courts by the estimated 6,000-plus Muslims who call the state home was lost on voters there. They approved Question 755 by a 70 percent margin. ...

"This serves as a reminder that these anti-Sharia laws are unconstitutional and that if politicians use fear-mongering and bigotry, the courts won't allow it to last for long," said Muneer Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma and the man who sued to block the law. (More)

Like most Americans, I began thinking about presidential candidates by determining their views on the issues that I cared about the most. Due to my immigrant Muslim-American identity, I was chiefly concerned with social values and foreign policy. But I found it increasingly difficult to choose between the Republicans and the Democrats.

Insofar as the Republicans championed conservative social values, I was attracted to their leadership, and, insofar as the Democrats challenged a hawkish foreign policy, I gravitated towards them. However, when I thought primarily as an American, rather than a Muslim or a humanitarian, I turned Republican because the party represented the moral hope for America, the country where I would like to raise a family. But then I witnessed the rise of Islamophobia through the Republican ranks just prior to the 2008 elections. Colin Powell's denunciation of this sentiment convinced me that as a Muslim-American I should favor the Democrats. My desires for a traditionally religious America were outweighed by the threats and insults I feared as a Muslim-American.

Unfortunately, the Islamophobia continues to grow. Not only has the political culture turned more Islamophobic, it is now expected that the candidates opine on "Sharia." The problem is not that they are not equipped to discuss Sharia, rather that their analyses seem intentionally simplistic and hateful. The two Republican candidates who best capture this tendency are Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. along with being foreign policy hawks, they also cast undue suspicion on Muslim-Americans, presumably thinking that it will get them more votes. Whether their assumption is true or not, I feel so alienated from their platforms that, despite some congruence over issues of public morality, any reconciliation will not be likely in the immediate future. (More)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- United States Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry drew Turkey's ire on Tuesday after suggesting the country is ruled by Islamic terrorists and questioned its NATO membership. (More)